Photographic composing apparatus



May 8, 1956 R. A. HlGoNNET ETAL 2,744,457

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMFOSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 8, 1953 NFf) INVENTORS RENE A. HIGONNET LOUIS M. MOYROUD MMWM@ ATTORNEYS May 8,1956 R. A. HlGoNNl-:T ETAL 2,744,457

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1953INVENTORS RENE A. HIGONNET LOUIS M. MOYROUD ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent O PHOTOGRAPHIC CMIOSING APPARATUS Rene A. Higonnet and Louis M.Moyroud, Cambridge, Mass., assignors to Graphic Arts ResearchFoundation, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of DelawareApplication May 8, 1953, Serial No. 353,882

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 9, 1952 11 Ciaims. (Cl.95-45) The present invention relates to photographic type composingapparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of a kind having selectormeans for causing photography of selected characters disposed upon asupport the said means being arranged in a circle and each characterhaving a corresponding position in the circle. The invention isdescribed with particular reference to photographic type composingapparatus of the kind employing a continuously rotating mechanism formoving the characters successively through a projection position, asgenerally described in our copending application, Serial No. 770,320,filed August 23, 1947. In said application an intermittent flash deviceis placed in position to illuminate a selected character in theprojection position. The flash timing means include a coarse control ordecoder synchronized with the rotating mechanism for determining a timeinterval in which the flash is to occur, and a fine or precise controlin the form of narrow apertures or slits on the character carrier whichadmit light to a photoelectric trigger cell at the precise instant whenthe flash device is energized to project the selected character onto asensitized film. The coarse control timing means is under the control ofa register or memory unit in which the characters have been previouslystored by the operation of a keyboard, Alternatively, it may be operateddirectly from the keyboard if desired, but in such case it is notpossible 'to justify the line.

In said application we have also described a specific form of decoderwhich is in the nature of a commutator having several rings, each ringhaving a brush and consisting of conducting and non-conducting segmentsarranged according to a code. Ey this means it is possible to establisha circuit condition for a discrete portion of the revolutioncorresponding to the time interval when any selected character passesthrough the projection position. Ordinarily, this arrangement is used asa socalled coarse or rough control or gate the circuit condition beingestablished for an appreciably longer interval than the brief instant inwhich the character must actually be projected, Accordingly, provisionis made independently of the decoder to trigger the illuminating flashat a precise moment within the selected interval when the correspondingcharacter is exactly in the projection position. This is the function ofthe fine or precise photoelectric control. ln said application each slitof the fine control is arranf'ed on the character carrier in precisespatial relation to a corresponding character and is adapted to excitethe photocell when the character is precisely in the projectionposition. The impulse caused by the excitation of the photccell is gatedby the decoder to the energizing source for the flash device. Thus, noflash can occur unless both the decoder and the tine control aresimultaneously operative.

1n our copending application Serial No. 150,024, filed March 16, i950,now Patent No. 2,652,755, we have described another type of decodingarrangement in which the translucent slits are each divided intosub-areas, each ICC sub-area being either translucent or opaqueaccording to a specified code arrangement. In this way, it is possibleto avoid the use of a commutator, but it is necessary to dispose thecoded slits on the character carrier or in some other suitable manner,in precise relation to the respective characters.

T he present invention relates to an improved photoelectric decoderperforming a function similar to that of the commutator decoder in saidapplication Serial No. 770,320, but not requiring the use of coded slitsor their equivalents directly upon the character carrier or in preciserelation to the respective characters. The apparatus may employ triggerslits of the type described in said application Serial No. 770,320, andmay be employed, for example, with an optical compensator device asdisclosed in our copending application Serial No. 269,056, filed January30, 1952.

A feature of the present invention resides in the use of opaque codemembers arranged adjacent to one another, each code member having acircular array of apertures. Separate Selector means are provided tomove each code member, and the apertures are so arranged that byselective movement of various combinations of the code members theapertures thereon may be mutually aligned to admit a beam of lightthrough the code men'.- bers at various discrete positions in eachcircle of apertures corresponding to various selected characters. Tothis arrangement is added means for causing a beam of light to bedirected toward the code members, and rotated to scan the apertures. Thebeam of light is gated through the code members at the moment when itreaches the position Where the apertures are aligned. A photoelectriccell receives the light admitted through the code members, and causesthe projection of the selected character.

According to another feature of the invention, we provide focusing meansfor the scanning light beam, by means of which we focus the beam 0r thelament of the light source at a position determined by the arrangementof the code members, whereby the maximum light is transmitted throughthe apertures to the photocell.

According to another feature, related to the above, we provide a decoderdevice in which the code members, corresponding in function to thecommutator in said application Serial No. 770,320, are not rotatedcontinuously, but are each moved to one or the other of two xedpositions according to the desired code, and are held stationary againstfixed stops during the operative interval in which the light beam isgated therethrough. The only moving parts are of comparatively lightweight; they are used only to cause the light to scan the apertures, andare not required to have structural means inherently adapted fordifferentiating between the code combinations of the various characters.The latter function is performed entirely by the stationary parts.

Other features of the invention relate to certain combinations,arrangements, relationships, structures, and modes of operation ashereinafter more fully described, and as specifically defined in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of aphotographic type composing apparatus utilizing a first embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device of Fig. 1 taken on line 2 2thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary developed view of the code disks of Fig. 1,showing the arrangement of the coded notches;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in section of a second embodi ment of theinvention employing code drums in place of code disks; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary developed view of the code 'cations Serial Nos.770,326 and 150,624.I

Si drums of Fig. 4 showing the arrangement of the coded apertures andnotches.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, we preferably provide a character carrier 2in the form of an opaque disk having translucent characters 1i disposedthereon in a circle, the disk being supported for rotation continuouslyabout an axis passing at right angles through the center of the circle.The disk is mounted upon a shaft 6 rotatably supported in a fixed frame8, the shaft 6 being driven through a pulley l@ and belt drive by asuitable motor l2. ln addition to the characters, the disk 2 has a berof translucent slits lf-l, each slit being'in precise spatial relationto a particular' character. rl`hus, in the described ernbodirnent theslit le is in precise spatial relation to the letter N. The foregoingarrangement is simiiar to that described in said application Serial No.770,320.

Also supported upon the shaft 6 is a gear lo in with a gear lll,preferably having the same number of teeth, the gear l being secured toa hollow shaft 2li rotatably supported in the frame. Thus, the motor l2drives the disk 2 in synchronism with the shaft 29. The shaft Ztl has apair of arms 22 and 2d rigidly secured thereto, the arms having angledportions 26 and at their outer ends. The angled portions bear reflectors3b and 32, which may be mirrors as sho-Wn, or equivalent prisms. Therenectors are arranged at angles of 45 degrees with respect to the axisof the shaft Ztl. Rigidly secured to the shaft, and inside thereof, aredisposed a pair of reflectors 3d and 36, also arranged respectivelyy atangles of 45 degrees with respect to said axis.

Anxed lamp 3-8, preferably having its filament in said I axis, or anyother suitable source of continuous illumination, is arranged oppositeto an optical condenser 4b, which projects a light beam of small sizeand relatively high intensity along the axis of the shaft Z'llto therevolving reflectors 36, Sil and 34- successively.. The path between thereliectors 32 and is normally interrupted, but is gated for a selectedportion of the revolution in a manner hereinafter described, whereby itis permitted to be reflected back into the axis of the shaft Slt) toimpinge lnally upon a Led phctocell d2. The photocell il is connectedwith an energizing source fifi for an intermittent flash device 46. Theflash device, when energized, illuminates a character in the projectionposition, the character being focused by a lens fill upon a sensitizedsheet A variable escapement 52 may be arranged to advance the sheet orlilrn 543 in accordance with the widths of the characters, as describedin said applications.

The beam of light is arranged to be obstructed throughout every secondrevolution of the character cartier Z in order to pr :tlc :sufficienttime between successive projection.D for operation of the variableescapement 52. This is accomplished by a shutter disk 53 rotatablysupported in the frame d and connected to the shaft 6 throughappropriate speed reducing gears.

The foregoing parts are arranged so that the spatial relationshiobetween the optical axes of the lenses 4b and' 4.3 corresponds with therelationship of each character i to its corresponding slit lll asdescribed in said applirillus, the slits le act to shutter the lightbeam from the source 33 so that when the beam strikes the photocell l2the character corresponding to the slit by which the beam is thenshuttered will be-precisely aligned in the projection position. It willbe understood that in the described embodiment the projection takesplace in a very short time, preferably of the order of a fewmicroseconds in duration.

Also secured Within the shaft 20 are a pair of lenses l5.4 and 56. Thepurpose of these lenses is to keep the light beam in focus and to causethe maximum amount of light to reach the photocell 42. These lenses maybe stationary, if desired. They are shown as part ofY the rotatingstructure for reasons of convenience. The segment of the beam pathbetween the reectors 32 and 39 is selectively shuttered or gated throughnotches or apertures in a set of code disks E8 to '72 at a position ofthe relectors corresponding to the character to be projected. To providegreatest intensity of illumination and to prevent excessive scatteringof the light as it passes through the disks, the lens 4b preferablyfocuses the image of the filament of the lamp 3S in the plane of thedisk 2, and the lens 5o preferably refocuses the image at a pointapproximately midway between the disks and 66. At this latter point,therefore, the beam Width is again at its narrowest. The lens 54 isarranged to refocus the beam upon the photecell 42.

Although We have described a structure in which all of the reflectorsare flat and revolving with the shaft 2i), it will be clear that we maysubstitute stationary conical reflectors for the mirrors Sil, 32 and 3d.The beam, rc-

v volved bythe rotating mirror 36, will be reflected by each of theconical mirrors at any position in which it may be directed.

rEhe code disks 53 to 72 are preferably supported in fixed brackets 74for limited rotation about the axis of the shaft 2t). Each disk has anormal position in which it rests against a fixed abutment 76, beingheld in that position by a tension spring 7S, and a control position atan angular displacem nt a therefrom. The disk reaches its controlposition upon energization of an electromagnet 30, the armature S2 ofwhich moves against a fixed abutment 84.

There are thus a total of eight eiectromagnets such as Si), eachelectromagnet controlling a limited movement of one of the disks 58 to72, thus affording the possibility of 256 unique code combinations, onefor each selectable character on the disk 2. The circuit for energizingthese electromagnets may take the ferm described in said applicationSerial No. 770,320, in which the reading magnets of a suitable registeror memory device are connected Wit the corresponding electromagnets,either directly or through intermediate relays. The particular circuitforms no part of the present invention. lf desired, the decoder may beconnected directly to a keyboard provided with permutation bars.

The notches in the code disks are so arranged when a selectedcombination of the disks are brought into their control positions theywill come into alignment at one and only one position. The light beamimpinges upon the disks at a radius indicated by the point P in Fig. 2.

The width of the opening thus created by the disks is preferably largerthan that of the proiected slit of light, so Lhat the precise timingaforded by the slit remains unaffected by slight changes in thepositions of the disks, or inaccuracies in the positions of the codednotches thereon. v

The code arrangement of the notches may be seen more clearly byreference to 3. The arrow Fi indicates the direction in which each diskis moved when its corresponding electromagnet is energized. The amountof movement is indicated by `at. ln the drawing the disks are all shownin their normal positions. lt may be readily veriiied that if thedimension parallel to the bottom margin of the sheet is considered asbeing divided into units of width a, the light beam, which is consideredas directed perpendicularly to the sheet and moving from left to right,will not be admitted through the notches as it passes through theoddunits e, regardless of the positions of the respective disks. However,in between these units an opening of Width s may be created in eachinstance by the movement of an appropriate combination of the disks.Thus, reading from left to right, the first opening will occur if thedisk 58 alone is moved. Similarly, a second opening will occur if thedisk 6i? alone is moved. A third opening is created by movement of thedisk 62 alone, and so on.

The decoding structure described above may be used in 5, otheralternative forms of character photographing apparatus. It will be seenthat the function of the disks is essentially to open a window at aselected position in a circle corresponding to a character which it isdesired to photograph. In place of the intermittent ash arrangementshown in the drawings, a separate photoelectrically operated device maybe placed behind the disks at each of the possible positions, eachdevice being adapted to cause the photography of a correspondingcharacter. The characters to be photographed may be disposed in anydesired manner so that any one of the characters can be photographedwhen its corresponding photoelectric means is actuated. For example, thecharacters may be disposed in fixed positions in an arc or circle, andoptical means may be provided to cause the image of any given characterto be projected to a fixed position. An example of such an arrangementis shown in our copending application Serial No. 332,312, tiled January21, 1953. In this case, the exposure need not be of extremely briefduration since the character is stationary.

The source 33, the condenser 40, and the mirrors 36 and 32 may bereplaced with any other suitable structure for causing the light beam toscan the notches in a manner substantially similar to that heretoforedescribed.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment which employs coded drums inplace of the disks 5S to 72. In this embodiment a number of drums 86 to100 are coaxially and slideably mounted in two equal groups upon twotubular projections 1ii2 of the frame 104. Each drum is held in a normalposition as represented by the drum 86, by a suitable spring not shown.It is moved into a control position as represented by the drum 90, byenergization of an electromagnet 106. There are eight electromagnets,giving a possible total of 256 characters.

The arrangement of the reflectors 108 to 114 is entirely similar to thatdescribed with reference to Fig. 1. However, the lenses are arrangedsomewhat differently because the code drums are arranged in two groups.A lens 116 is preferably adjusted to focus the light beam at a pointapproximately between the drums 88 and 90. A lens 118 refocuses the beamat a point between the drums 96 and 98; and a lens 12) refocuses thebeam upon the photocell 122.

The rotating structure consists of a hollow shaft 124 to which thereectors 108 and 114 and the lenses 116 and 120 are secured, a gear 126having teeth engageable with a motor-driven driving pinion, not shown,and a frame 128 supported in the gear and in turn supporting thereflectors 110 and 112 and the lens 118.

It will be noted that, as with the embodiment of Figs. l to 3, thelenses 116 and 120 may be held stationary, if desired. Also, we maysubstitute stationary conical reectors for the mirrors 110, 112 and 114,as noted above with reference to Fig. 1.

An advantage of this embodiment over that ot' Fig. 1 resides in the useof the lens 118, whereby the beam may again be brought into sharp focusafter it has passed through half of the code drums, thereby sharplyreducing the light loss.

Another advantage of this embodiment may be seen with reference to Fig.5, which is a fragmentary developed view of the edge portion of each ofthe drums. Each drum has a set of notched slots 130 and notches 132, thenotches occurring at the spaces between the slots. Energization of anyof the electromagnets such as 1116 causes the corresponding drum to movein a direction indicated by the arrow F2. The distance moved isindicated as d. The light beam, to be admitted, must pass through eachdrum in a direction perpendicular to the drawing.

In this case, the dimension of the developed View parallel to the bottommargin or" the sheet may be considered as broken up into units of width2a. As the light beam travels from left to right in the figure, it willbe admitted throughout any one entire unit 2a by appropriate movement ofa corresponding combination of the drums. This is made possible becauseeach drum moves to its controly position in a direction at right anglesto that in which the beam scans. It is possible 1o have apertures eachsubtending an arm 2a, yet providing for as many characters in the circleas in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, wherein the disks are moved totheir control positions along the same line as that in which the beamscans, and wherein each aperture subtends only an arc a.

It will be understood that various modifications of the foregoingstructures and various other arrangements of the parts may be employedwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Some ofthese modifications and alternative arrangements have been describedabove, and other will occur to those skilled in this art.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of asupport for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism for moving the characters successively through a projectionposition, an intermittent flash device to illuminate a selectedcharacter in said position, projection means to form an image of saidcharacter upon a sensitized sheet, and control means for the tiashdevice, said control means including a number of opaque code members,each code member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circleabout a fixed axis and provision for movement about said axis, selectormeans for moving a combination of said members corresponding to aselected character to form a light path passing through the codemembers, a light source, means for projecting a beam of light along saidaxis, continuously rotating reflector means synchronized with saidmechanism to rotate said beam continuously about said axis to scan theapertures, whereby said light path admits the beam at a discreteposition thereof, reflector means to deiiect the admitted beam into saidaxis, a photoelectric device in said axis to receive the beam, and acircuit for energizing the flash device actuated by said photoelectricdevice.

2. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of asupport for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism for moving the characters successively through a projectionposition, an intermittent dash device to illuminate a selected characterin said position, projection means to form an image of said characterupon a sensitized sheet, and control means for the iash device, saidcontrol means including a number of opaque code members, each codemember having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle about afixed axis and provision for movement about said axis, selector meansfor moving a combination of said members corresponding to a selectedcharacter to form a light path passing through the code members, a lightsource, means synchronized with said mechanism for projecting a beam oflight to said code members to scan said apertures, whereby said iightpath admits the beam at a discrete position thereof, reflector means todeiiect the admitted beam into said axis, a photoelectric device in saidaxis to receive the beam, and a circuit ior energizing the flash deviceactuated by said photoelectric device.

3. in a photographic type composing machine having a continuouslyrotating mechanism for moving the chan actors to be photographedsuccessively through a projection position, control m: ns for selectinga character' to be photographed comp a number of opaque code members,each codel member being displaceable to a normal position a controlposition and having a piurality of apertures arranged in a circle,selector means for displacing a combi i et' said members correspendingto said character to their control positions to form a light path nowider than a single aperture passing through the c` e members, a lightsource, means synchronized with sal.. mechanism for projecting a beam oflight to said code members to scan the apertures, whereby said iightpath admits the beam at discrete position thereof corresponding to themoment when said char' acter is in projection position, and meansresponsive to the admitted beam to photograph said character.

4. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of asupport for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism for moving the characters successively through a projectionposition, an intermittent iiash device to illuminate a selectedcharacter in said position, projection means to form an image of saidcharacter upon a sensitized sheet, and control means for the ash device,said control means including a number of parallel opaque code disks,each disk having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle about afixed axis and provision for movement about said axis, selector meansfor moving a combination of said disks corresponding to a selectedcharacter to form a path passing through the disks at a discreteposition inl each of said circles corresponding to said character, alight source, means synchronized with said mechanism for projecting abeam of light to said disks to scan the apertures, whereby said lightpath admits the beam at a discreteposition thereof corresponding to themoment when said character is in projection position, and meansresponsive to the admitted beam to photograph said character.

5. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of asupport for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism for moving the characters successively through a projectionposition, an intermittent flash device to illuminate a selectedcharacter in said position, projection means to form an image or saidcharacter upon a sensitized sheet, and control means for the .dashdevice, said control means including a number of concentric opaque codecylinders having a ixed axis, each cylinder having a plurality ofapertures arranged in a circle parallel to said axis and provision formovement about said axis, selector means for moving a combination ofsaid cylinders corresponding to a selected character to form a lightpath passing through the cylinders at a discrete position in each ofsaid circles corresponding to said character, a light source, meanssynchronized with said mechanism for projecting a beam of light to saidcylinders to scan the apertures, whereby said light path admits the beamat a discrete position thereof corresponding to the moment when saidcharacter is in projection position, and means responsive to theadmitted beam to photograph said character.

6. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of asupport for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism to present the characters successively in a projectionposition, nier-.ns to project an image of a character in said positionupon a sf nsitized sheet, and a control device for said projection meansincluding means to produce a beam of light revolving about a fixed axisin synchronism with said mechanism, a number of code members arranged toobstruct the beam, each code member having a plurality ot' aperturesarranged in a circle about said axis and provision for movement of theapertures in relation to the path of the beam, selector means for movinga combination of said members corresponding to the selected character toadmit the beam through the code members when said character is in saidposition, a photoelectric device to receive the admitted beam, and acircuit actuated by the photoelectric device to operate the projectionmeans.

7. Fhotographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of asupport for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism to present the characters successively in a projectionposition, an iiermittent iiash device to project an image of a characterin said position upon a sensitized sheet, and a control device for saidintermittent iiash device includ- 0 CB ing means to produce a beam oflight revolving about a lfixed axis in synchronism with said mechanism,a number of code members arranged to obstruct the beam, each code memberhaving a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle-about Said axis andprovision for movement of the apertures in relation to the path of thebeam, selector means for moving a combination of said memberscorresponding to the selected character to admit the beam through thecode members when said character is in said position, a photo/electricdevice to receive the admitted beam, and a circuit actuated by thephotoelectric device to operate the intermittent ilash device.

8. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of asupport for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism to present the characters successively in a projectionposition, an intermittent flash device to project an image of acharacter in said position upon a sensitized sheet, and a control devicefor said intermittent iiash device including means to produce a beam oflight revolving about a liz-fed axis in synchronism with saidmechanism., means supported in fixed Spatial relation to each characterto interrupt the beam when said character is precisely in said`position, a number of code members arranged to obstruct the beam, eachcode member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle aboutsaid axis and provision for movement of the apertures in relation to thepath of the beam, selector means for moving a combination of saidmembers corresponding to the selected character to admit the beamthrough the code members when said character is in said position, aphotoelectric device to receive the admitted beam, and a circuitactuated by the photoelectric device to operate the intermittent ashdevice.

9. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of asupport for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism to present the characters successively in a projectionposition, means to project an image of a character in said position upona sensitized sheet, and a control device for said projection meansincluding means to produce a beam of light revolving about a fixed axisin synchronism with said mechanism, a number of parallel code disksarranged to obstruct the beam, each disk having a plurality of aperturesarranged in a circle about said axis and provision for limited rotationabout said axis, selector means for moving a combination of said diskscorresponding to the selected character to admit the beam through thedisks when said character is in said position, a photoelectric device toreceive the admitted beam, and a circuit actuated by the photoelectricdevice to operate the projection means.

l0. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination ofa support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism to present the characters successively in a projectionposition, means to project an image of a character in said position upona sensitized sheet, and a control device for said projection meansincluding means to produce a beam of light revolving about a fixed axisin synchronism with said mechanism, a number of concentric opaque codecylinders having said axis-in common, each cylinder having a pluralityof apertures arranged in a circle about said axis and provision forlimited movement parallel to said axis, selector means for moving acombination of said drums corresponding to the selected character toadmit the beam through the drums when said character is in saidposition, a photoelectric device to receive the admitted beam, and acircuit actuated by the photoelectric device to operate the projectionmeans.

ll. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination ofa support for the character to be photographed, a continuously rotatingmechanism to present the characters successively in a projectionposition, means to project an image of a character in said position upona sensitized sheet, anda control device for said protric device toreceive the beam, a circuit actuated by the photoelectric device tooperate the projection means, and focusing means in the path of the beamto focus it substantially in the center of each set of code drums.

jection means including a light source, means to project a beam of lightfrom the source along a fixed axis, a reilector revolving about saidaxis in synchronism with said mechanism to reect the beam at rightangles, a first set of code drums concentric with said axis to admit there- 5 volving reected beam at selected angular positions, re- ReferencesCited inthe flle of this patent iector means to direct the admitted beaminto a revolving UNITED STATES PATENTS path intersecting said axis, asecond set of code drums 2 concentric with said aXis to further limitthe beam to an 392224 Boye Jan' 1 1946 angular position corresponding tothe selected character, 10 2663232 Dnlhck Dec' 221 1953 a reflector todirect the beam into said axis, a photoelec

